S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3703
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2021
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Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to debt relief
from predatory debt collectors
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 602 of the general business law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT OF ACTION GRANTED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE OF THIS
CHAPTER, IF A PRINCIPAL CREDITOR EMPLOYS ANY DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES
IN COLLECTING A DEBT FROM A DEBTOR, OR VIOLATES ONE OR MORE PROVISIONS
OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE IN COLLECTING A DEBT FROM A
DEBTOR, SUCH DEBTOR MAY BRING AN ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM AND MAY THEREBY
EXTINGUISH THE DEBT ALLEGEDLY OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. THE COURT SHALL
EXTINGUISH THE DEBT IN ITS ENTIRETY IF THE DEBTOR HAS ASSETS LESS THAN
THAT OF THE PRINCIPAL CREDITOR WHO HAS EMPLOYED DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRAC-
TICES, PROVIDED THAT THE DEBTOR HAS NOT COMMITTED A CRIMINAL FRAUD UNDER
THE PENAL LAW. THE COURT SHALL PLACE SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT ON THE STATE'S
POLICY OF DETERRING DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES IN CONNECTION WITH DEBT
COLLECTION, AS WELL AS THE STATE'S INTEREST IN PROVIDING MEANINGFUL DEBT
RELIEF TO ITS CITIZENS. THE COURT MAY AWARD REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES
TO A PREVAILING DEBTOR.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03004-01-1